In the text that follows (from the seventh generation on) the various members of the family are each given an identification code. Starting with the children of Caleb Sheldon Butts Aylesworth, our prime subject, each is given a number (1-9) denoting their branch of the family. To this number is added a letter for each of their children (i.e. 7-A) and to each succeeding generation is added a number or letter alternating with each generation (i.e. 7A2C-1 etc.). Thus by removing the last number or letter you have the code for the parent of the person with that code.

The index shows all related members mentioned in this book. Some are in addendums of ancestral branches of the family and appear in the index with a reference to the addendum in which they are located (i.e. Add 36) and the addendums are all numbered in the front of their section of the book. Spouses of direct descendants of Caleb Sheldon are shown as 'H-' or 'W-' followed by the code of the descendant. In some cases where spouses Grandparents were located or provided and not enough data was available to include an addendum for their family, they appear in the index as: (GF), Grandfather; (GGM), Great Grandmother; (GGGF), Great Great Grandfather etc. followed by the code of the descendants as (GF)W,7A-2 or Grandfather of the Wife of 7A-2. They will be located in the text under the descendant’s name. Those members appearing in the first to sixth generations are followed in the index with (4th.gen.) or (5th. gen.) as the case may be.

Those persons appearing in the book but not related in anyway have not been indexed as they are not of genealogical value to this record. They do however add some interesting points, or provide connections to historical events and the family. A few have been indexed where important facts are concerned or stories disproved.

Reference numbers are shown throughout the book where needed, such as (Ref. 61, 72), and can be found in the Bibliography where a more complete title of the reference can be located for further study or research.

Following dates and locations of births, deaths and marriages can be found some references to Volume and pages. These are the locations of the events in the county records where the event occurred and indicate that the record was checked to document the event or correct other data.

It should be mentioned here that many "Death" records contain erroneous birth dates as those who supplied the information did not consider if the deceased had a birthday in the year they passed on. Marriage and Census records also contain some erroneous ages and birth locations probably either guesses or supplied by the more beautiful members of the family wishing to hide their true ages. Where discrepancies were discovered, the record of the event was used whenever it could be located and in other cases, the date most often repeated in the material provided was used.

Accuracy is a prime requisite of a record such as this. Much time was devoted to double-checking information against the record of the events. Clues found in other records and in conversations were followed up to discover material not otherwise reported or supplied to improve the accuracy of this record.

If you wish to find extremely famous or infamous people like, Presidents, Kings or Queens, Movie Stars, Horse thieves, Bank robbers and public enemies, you will have to read some other book for try as I could, no close relationships could be established. However some connections are noted in a few instances in related families.